Plans to merge textbooks making schoolbags lighter

Mangaluru, 19 Sep 2019 [Fik/News Sources]: Planning seriously to reduce the bulk burden on students’ shoulders, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Suresh Kumar said the government has decided to reduce the size the of text books starting next academic year and he will consult stakeholders in this regard.

At an interaction with school children Suresh Kumar was flooded with questions on heavy schoolbags despite directions to reduce their weight. Addressing the children’s concern, the minister said, “The issue has come to our notice and we are looking to reduce the size of text books from the forthcoming academic year.”

Explaining, Suresh Kumar said, “There have been multiple textbooks in each discipline and they could be clubbed into one. We will think about combining both the science and mathematics textbooks so that the volume is reduced.”

The state government, during the beginning of the current academic year, ordered that the weight of school bags should not be more than 10% of the child’s weight. However, no progress has been made in this regard.